Tuesday, April 24, 2007
The worst attack on American ground forces in Iraq in over a year—killing nine and injuring approximately 20 soldiers—hit close to home today because all of the soldiers were from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, an N.C. unit based at Fort Bragg.
The attack is casting a shadow over the first Democratic Presidential candidate debate scheduled for this Thursday in South Carolina.
All eight of the Democratic hopefuls that have formally announced their Presidential intentions will converge on South Carolina State University for their first group discussions with one another. Click here for a full breakdown of the contenders.
With the possibility that 23 or more states will hold their primary elections in January and early February, political experts are predicting that the party nominations could be decided as early as “Super-Duper” Tuesday, February 5, 2008—almost ten months before November’s elections—and that this new process favors candidates with large war chests and does not allow the nation to hear from lesser-known candidates.
So what does all this have to do with local news coverage? The accelerated schedule has caused a ripple effect for news rooms across the country. Today, I found myself building a special Decision 2008 election section for our Web site almost 20 months before the actual election is held. I can’t be the only person who finds this odd.
Look for the launch of our new Election 2008 section this Thursday on our Web site, just in time for the first debate.
The debate begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday and will be aired live on MSNBC. NBC17.com will also provide streaming Web coverage.
Posted by
Chris Nicolini on 04/24 at 05:16 PM
Friday, April 20, 2007
Anytime I speak at colleges and universities, I am always asked about how news is decided. I figured I would take a few minutes to explain the process.
Everyday, we have editorial meetings. These meetings are at the same times, everyday. The first one is at 9am followed by one at 11am and 3pm.
These meetings are an opportunity for the producers, content coordinators, reporters, photographers, promotions staff and management to come together and discuss possible stories. Most of the news decisions are made in advance of these meetings. In fact, many times the decisions are made a day in advance.
The purpose of the editorial meeting is to bring everyone in on the game plan, answer questions and adjust the plan, as necessary. It is also an opportunity to begin discussing potential stories for the following day(s).
Essentially what we do is go around the room and listen to all the story suggestions. We discuss stories that we have seen or heard in the community. We go over all the stories that viewers like you, have called or emailed to us. If the story is for a future day, it is handed to our station’s planning editor. More on that position, later. On average, the meetings last 30 minutes.
Every staff member has a voice in the editorial meetings. Through this blog, I am hoping to give you a voice in our editorial meetings, as well.
Here’s today’s webcast.
Jason
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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/20 at 08:41 AM
Thursday, April 19, 2007
I want to take a moment and share some viewer comments that NBC17 has received, in regards to the use of the video and images of Virginia Tech shooter, Cho Seung-Hui.
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“PLEASE remove the picture of Cho pointing a gun at the world from your web page. I find it offensive, distrubing and frankly, uncalled for. Pictures of the those poor innocent students should be displayed.”
“Would you please do your viewers a service and STOP showing those disgusting pictures of the terrorist at Virginia Tech. Have you thought anything about the families of the victims? Have you thought about that fact there may be other troubled people seeing those pictures and deciding the publicity is GREAT, and go out and do the same thing?”
“There is no reason to show them and you are doing exactly what he wanted the media to do…YOU are continuing his act of terrorism. Shame on you!”
“NOBODY needs to see what those poor students saw first-hand. Show some compassion, we’ve stopped watching the Today Show and until we know producers and reporters are showing some common sense, we will NOT watch. I know you’re not the only ones showing them, but your network was the FIRST and should have had more feelings for PEOPLE, not ratings. How would you all feel if a member of your family was involved and traumatized?”
“Please don’t aire the garbage that was sent in by that man!! By so doing, you are continuing his power over all of us, which was his wish! Use your power as the media and take away his ability to further hurt this Nation!”
As always, I welcome your thoughts and feedback.
Jason
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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/19 at 12:31 PM
There has been a lot of discussion about the use of the VT Massacre pictures and video, by NBC News.
As a local news organization, we have a responsibility to report the news. I want to take a moment and explain to you what we have decided, as it relates to NBC17’s use of the massacre video and images.
Below is a statement from NBC17 News Director, Nannette Wilson.
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The decision to air the video and statements from Cho Seung-Hui was not made lightly by NBC 17 News.
Like NBC News, careful consideration was, and continues, to be given to all aspects of this very difficult story. We recognize the sensitive nature of this particular material for the families of the victims, the Virginia Tech community and all of our viewers who are undoubtedly affected by this story.
We agree with NBC News that Cho’s statements and videos may offer some insight into the critical question of why a person would commit such a horrible act. We want to give our viewers an opportunity to see and judge for themselves. We also want to give viewers the option of not watching the video by warning them about the nature of this content before it airs.
There will be limited use of the video going forward, and we will continue to warn viewers if and when we do.
As always, we encourage feedback from our viewers and find their input invaluable in our quest to serve our community better, every day.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/19 at 12:01 PM
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
In a bizarre development, the gunman who open fire on the campus of Virginia Tech has sent a package to NBC News.
According to MSNBC, the package contains pictures and a manifesto from the shooter, Cho Seung-Hui. The images are disturbing. Among the items sent to NBC News, a date and time stamped video tape of Cho Seung-Hui. It is believed that he recorded his statements in between the two shootings on the campus.
As a news organization, we are faced with deciding how to present these pictures, and in what context to air the video of Seung-Hui. We recognize that these images may be upsetting to some of our viewers. We understand that you may have children and not want them to see or hear this information.
I welcome your thoughts or comments on the media’s use of these pictures/video.
Jason
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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/18 at 04:58 PM
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